Lost in Bitter Thought
Beneath a moonlit sky he sat, watching the stars with the most distant of gazes. With knees hugged to an undulating chest he appeared lost in thought, completely obvious to the waning flames before him or the ball of yellow fur at his side. Intermittent winds toyed with midnight locks of hair, the smoldering fire glowing brighter with the infusion of air, casting deeper shadows against the encircling greenery. None of it fazed the unblinking eyes of the young man as he continued his endless watch of the heavens.
So many nights had been spent under the blanket of lavender, so many days beneath the sea of azure. So many days, so many adventures, yet so little success. All those years ago he had set out with a singular goal in mind, but as he had strived forward its intensity had faded. Friends had arisen to overshadow his purpose, to take his focus from his goal.
But as much of a curse as they were, they had been the greatest blessing; his greatest success and his undoing. They had been his staunchest supporters and his most persistent detractors, supplying his spirit while siphoning his energy.
No, they weren't the true cause of his failings: he was. He had let the distractions get the better of him. Ever since he had left the town of his birth, he had found ways to avoid the true necessities of success. His life had hardly been a series of failures by any measure; one would only need to question the lengthy list of trainers who had seen defeat at his hands. An equally impressive list of sanctioned gym leaders had fallen at his hand, succumbing to his unrelenting will.
Then why was it that, when he was nearest his ambition, he faltered, falling flat with the most resounding of thuds. He had become the jack of all leagues; and the master of none. The boy from a small town with seemingly unending potential, the young man who had even spared the worlds its ruin, couldn't complete his journey. Many were beginning to call him a choker, claiming he couldn't win the big one.
So this is where unmet expectations left her humbled charges: alone.
The thought caused him to blink in surprise, head moving about as it searched the surroundings for something. Yellow fur, covering his constant companion, caught his attention, becoming the sole focus of his dark eyes. Reaching out to stroke the soft fur, a resolved set to his features appearing, he felt himself grow angry with his thoughts.
No, he wasn't alone. Those friends he had scorned as the ball chained to his leg weren't a burden at all, they were his strength. Their hands had lifted him up in times of need, helping him to stand on his own legs. The words from their mouths were nothing but support, encouraging him to press forward; to never settle. And here he was, settling for the excuses of his bitter regret, cursing himself and those dearest to him.
Continuing to brush the fur of his friend, casting his gaze at the full moon high in the night sky, his mind flashed with a single, ardent thought.
He was Ash Ketchum, a young man determined to be the best, no matter what.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
I know it's not that good, but I had to purge it from my system. Hopefully I'll have a new chapter up for Bloodshed soon, along with a 'new' old one shot I posted once before. Feel free to contact me any time with questions, comments, or just to shoot the breeze.
-Bruh Studios